An Apple A Glass of Beer a Day Keeps the Doctor Away!

Yes, you’ve read the title right!

This is inspired from the popular belief that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. I don’t like apples and I know a lot out there who feels the same way to that fruit. But for their protection, I’m not allowed to mention their names.

My unhealthy friends and I, who wanted to have a healthy lifestyle but hate apple, made an intensive research on how we can keep the doctor away without eating apple every single day. Take note of the word intensive there. We were surprised with the result. We haven’t even thought that we were living a healthy life all these years. Do you want to know why? I’ll tell you why!

A lot was really on our list as a substitute to that fruit: banana, orange, mango, pineapple, watermelon, weed, cocaine, meth and all the fruits that you can see in a fruit salad but we ended up with beer. Imagine that?

Beer’s main ingredients are the following: grains, hops, yeast, and water.

It is in beer’s influence that we somewhat become the wackier or even gutsier version of ourselves. Some may have even created their greatest and most embarrassing memories with a beer in hand while some may have discovered their talents through a bottle or two. But most of the time, it is in drinking beer that we socialize with colleagues, de-stress from work and bond with our friends.

Studies conducted in Italy, Finland, Germany, Spain, USA and many other countries including Philippines (which were conducted by us) regarding the health benefits of beer. Contrary to popular belief, beer has actual scientifically proven benefits other than just making you look cool. Here are a few:

Beer decreases the risk of kidney stones, hypertension, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.The increased intake of liquids when drinking beer merits us a few trips to the bathroom. As a result, it helps our kidneys function better, thus lowering or preventing kidney stone formation. The alcohol in beer also helps raise HDL Cholesterol, coined good cholesterol, which lowers the risk of heart attack. It aids in the flexibility of our arteries that helps better blood flow. The silicon content in beer also offset our body’s ability to take in high levels of aluminum, which research suggests (2008, Journal on Food and Chemical Toxicology), is a component of Alzheimer’s disease.

Beer increases bone density and is an effective beauty product.Someone who drinks a bottle or two of beer a day takes in a good number of proteins and other minerals such as iodine, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus, as well as high levels of calcium, which strengthens bone density. Also, beer is a great source of vitamin B. Made of barley; beer contains a powerful antioxidant called ferulic acid, shown to protect our skin from sun damage. Silica in hops adds luster and volume to hair and fortifies it from within.

Beer prevents type 2 diabetes and helps in weight management.In comparison, a pint of beer only contains not more than a spoon of sugar while a can of Coke contains seven spoons of sugar. This alone can give us an idea which is the better drink. Beer is also composed of 93 percent water, which makes it good for rehydration. Spanish researchers asked students to drink beer post workout session. Those who had a pint were more rejuvenated after their exercise than those who drank something else (Gatorade perhaps?). Drinking beer increases bile production, which in turn increases digestion of fatty food. Fiber in beer also wards off hunger and thus helps in weight loss.

Beer can fight off infection.Having a bottle or two brews a day keeps bacteria and infection away. Scientists in the Oregon Health and Science University injected smallpox vaccines to two groups of primates. The first group was given access to alcohol (beer), and the other sugar water. The group with access to the beverage had a better response to the vaccine than those with sugar water. According to them, beer drinkers have better immune systems and respond more to vaccines than non–beer drinkers.

Don’t get me wrong. San Miguel Corporation is not paying me for writing this. My point is simple, there’s nothing wrong with us, I’m referring to myself and my friends; There’s nothing wrong with the people that you see drinking almost every day at Tonyo’s, O-Mart, B Sounds, Barbecue Boss, Route Stop or somewhere along Mango Ave.

Again, there’s nothing wrong with us! We just want to live a healthy life.

To live a healthy life is simple, either you eat apple or you drink beer. But if you choose the latter one, make sure you drink moderately; just limit yourself to one or two glasses of beer a day. That way, you can enjoy its health benefits and keep things social and relaxed. No need to rush for happy hour, people. Drink moderately and stay healthy!